# Where Are the Generated SKILL.md Files Stored in book-to-skill? > Locate your generated SKILL.md files in the book-to-skill repository. Learn the default storage path and how to customize the skill directory with the --skill-dir argument. - Repository: [Virgilio Junior/book-to-skill](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-29 --- **The book-to-skill pipeline creates a dedicated skill directory for each conversion, storing the master [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file at `.//SKILL.md` by default, with the location fully customizable via the `--skill-dir` CLI argument.** When converting technical books into AI-ready skill definitions using the `virgiliojr94/book-to-skill` repository, understanding exactly **where the generated SKILL.md files are stored** is critical for agent integration. The pipeline automatically constructs a structured output directory during Step 6 of the extraction process, placing the master skill definition alongside supporting chapter chunks and reference materials. ## Default Output Location By default, the tool writes the **skill directory** alongside the repository root, using the sanitized book title as the folder name. According to the repository's root [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) specification, this occurs during **Step 6** of the pipeline—"Create skill directory structure." The generated directory contains: - [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) — The master skill definition consumed by AI agents - `chunks/` — Individual chapter-level markdown files (`chunk-*.md`) - `glossary/`, `patterns/`, `cheatsheet/` — Optional supporting artefacts referenced by the master file For example, converting a PDF titled "MyAwesomeBook" produces: ```bash ./MyAwesomeBook/SKILL.md ./MyAwesomeBook/chunks/chunk-01.md ./MyAwesomeBook/glossary/... ``` ## Customizing the Output Path The default location can be overridden using the **`--skill-dir`** argument defined in [`book_to_skill/cli.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/book_to_skill/cli.py). This parameter accepts a custom filesystem path, allowing you to organize generated skills outside the project root or into version-controlled directories. ```bash # Override the default location with a custom directory python -m book_to_skill.cli /path/to/book.pdf --skill-dir ./generated_skills/MyAwesomeBook ``` When specified, the pipeline creates the `` subdirectory within the provided path, maintaining the internal structure described above. ## Directory Structure Breakdown ### The Master SKILL.md File Located at `//SKILL.md`, this file serves as the primary interface for AI agents. It aggregates metadata, learning objectives, and references to chunked content stored in subdirectories. ### Chapter Chunks The `chunks/` subdirectory contains individual markdown files (`chunk-*.md`) representing granular sections of the source book. AI agents can reference these directly for targeted retrieval or context window management. ### Supporting Artefacts Depending on the book content, the pipeline may generate additional folders: - `glossary/` — Term definitions and domain vocabulary - `patterns/` — Reusable code patterns or architectural decisions - `cheatsheet/` — Quick reference materials ## Programmatic Access To load the generated skill into an AI agent or validation tool, reference the concrete file path using standard library functions. The [`tools/scan_generated_skill.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/tools/scan_generated_skill.py) utility expects this directory layout when performing safety checks on generated outputs. ```python # Loading the generated SKILL.md for an AI agent from pathlib import Path skill_path = Path("MyAwesomeBook/SKILL.md") skill_content = skill_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") # Pass `skill_content` to your agent's prompt or loader ``` The [`tests/test_scan_generated_skill.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/tests/test_scan_generated_skill.py) suite confirms that the pipeline correctly instantiates this directory structure during execution, ensuring reliable path resolution across environments. ## Summary - Generated **SKILL.md** files reside in a dedicated skill directory named after the book title, created during Step 6 of the pipeline. - The default output location is `.//` relative to the repository root, containing the master file plus `chunks/` and optional subfolders. - Override the default path using the **`--skill-dir`** argument in [`book_to_skill/cli.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/book_to_skill/cli.py). - AI agents consume the master [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file while optionally referencing granular content in the `chunks/` subdirectory. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the default location for generated SKILL.md files? By default, the pipeline places the skill directory at `.//` relative to the project root, where `` is derived from the book title. The master file sits at `//SKILL.md`, with chapter chunks stored in `//chunks/`. ### How do I change where SKILL.md files are saved? Use the **`--skill-dir`** command-line argument when running `python -m book_to_skill.cli`. This parameter, defined in [`book_to_skill/cli.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/book_to_skill/cli.py), accepts a custom filesystem path where the pipeline will create the skill directory structure. ### What other files are created besides SKILL.md? The pipeline generates a complete skill package including: chapter-level markdown files in the `chunks/` folder; terminology definitions in `glossary/`; design patterns in `patterns/`; and quick-reference materials in `cheatsheet/`. These artefacts are referenced by the master SKILL.md file. ### How can AI agents access the generated skill files? AI agents should target the master [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file at `//SKILL.md` for the complete skill definition. For fine-grained context, agents can directly load individual files from the `chunks/` subdirectory, as validated by [`tools/scan_generated_skill.py`](https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/main/tools/scan_generated_skill.py).